Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Aisling
Aisling could barely form a coherent thought.
This wasn’t how she’d pictured any potential mating, but she damned sure wouldn’t complain about it. It was far from the worst-case scenario that had pecked at her brain—losing control and unable to stop herself from claiming Tamsin, whether the sweet little corgi was willing or not.
And it’s not a quick shag in a stall in the ladies in a pub, either, thank the feckin’ Goddess for small favors.
So there was that.
When she scooped Tamsin into her arms, the corgi let out a playful yip of surprise.
Aisling raced down the hall with her to Tamsin’s room, tossing her onto the bed, where she landed with a laugh that twisted Aisling’s heart even tighter around the sweet little corgi shifter.
Aisling closed the door, made sure it was locked, and then nearly launched herself across the room to land on the mattress next to Tamsin.
Tamsin was already reaching for her, fisting Aisling’s shirt and pulling her in for another long, deep kiss.
They both moaned, the vibration rippling through Aisling’s soul and realigning every atom, with Tamsin now forming the nucleus.
This is perfection.
Had she thought she understood mate bonds before? Ha!
It felt like her soul had finally been plugged in and was powered by the Universe, lifting the darkness she’d long ago grown used to living with as a default and natural state of being.
She tasted like lavender and curry and—
“What did you have for lunch, love?” Aisling asked.
“Leftover curry that was in the fridge that Carl didn’t want the rest of, and lavender mint tea. Why?”
“Ah. Just wondering. Interesting combination. I love it. New favorite scent.” She slanted her lips over Tamsin’s again as Tamsin ground against Aisling’s thigh.
Aisling cupped Tamsin’s ass through her jeans and held on, trying to shove her own brain out of the way so she could just feckin’ enjoy this with no other thoughts pecking away at her.
Tasmin cupped her face in her hands and stared into Aisling’s eyes. “You do have a noisy mind.” She playfully smiled.
Aisling flipped her onto her back, straddling her. “Is that so, pet? Maybe I know what’ll make both of our brains shut down for a little while.
Tamsin reached down to work on her own fly. “I think you’re absolutely right about that.”
Aisling leaned in and kissed a trail along Tamsin’s jaw, down her neck, lingering at the hollow of her throat. As she traced and teased with the tip of her tongue, Tamsin made the most adorable mewling noises and arched up against her.
“Shh,” Aisling whispered, lightly grazing her teeth along her flesh. “No need to rush. I want to take my time.”
Tamsin’s fingers clamped around Aisling’s shoulders, digging in. “Can we take our time the second time and rush this one?”
Aisling laughed. “No. Besides, you came once already. Don’t think I missed that, ye cheeky thing.”
That earned her another adorable whine of protest from Tamsin.
Ohhhh, yes. This is what perfection feels like. Please, Goddess, don’t take it from me.
Tamsin
Just the friction of her grinding on Aisling’s thigh had nearly made Tamsin come again until Aisling flipped her onto her back.
Staring up into her green eyes, Tamsin marveled at this miracle.
Yes, she’d always hurt, always grieve Maisie and Rupert.
Always wish they’d had more time together. That Rupert could’ve found a guy for him and been happy.
Always think of them when looking at her baby girl.
Always regret they didn’t have more time together.
Always.
Goddess, if you take Aisling away from me after everything I’ve been through, I will find a way to curse you, I swear I will.
Aisling wore a playfully evil smile as she worked her way lower, grabbing the hem of Tamsin’s shirt and lifting it, baring her midriff before nuzzling and kissing and licking sweet patterns across her flesh.
Tamsin bit back a happy moan, well aware of the children sleeping just a couple of rooms away.
A picture flashed through her mind, of them in their own home here in Florida, with Maisie and even other children, happy, living their best lives.
Aisling lifted her head to meet Tamsin’s gaze. “Here in Florida, hmm?”
Tamsin’s face heated. “You heard that?”
Aisling smiled. “Guess the shite about mate bonds isn’t shite after all, eh?”
Tamsin shook her head. “It’s not,” she softly said. “And it’s everything.”
Aisling scowled a little and, much to Tamsin’s dismay, sat up. “Are ye all right, love?”
“I’ll be a lot better once we’re both naked.”
Aisling leaned in and kissed her, slowly, sweetly, the tip of her tongue tracing Tamsin’s lips. “Carl’s got everythin’ under control out there. He’ll just be happy I won’t be actin’ like an arsehole anymore.”
Tamsin pulled her head away. “What?”
“Obviously I’m not kissin’ ye very well if ye can still think.”
“What do you mean, though?”
Aisling melodramatically sighed. “I mighta been tryin’ my level best to make Carl bend Dewi’s ear and get me pulled from this assignment.”
“Because of me?”
“Because I didn’t want to lose control and violate your consent.”
Tamsin smiled. “Seems like I’m the one who grabbed you.”
“You know what I mean.”
“That’s very chivalrous of you,” Tamsin said, “but I’m an adult, and if you don’t bury your face between my legs right now, I’m liable to spontaneously combust!”
She squirmed and wiggled and managed to pull her shirt off and toss it somewhere onto the floor. When she started to wriggle out of her bra, Aisling grabbed her by the wrists and pinned her hands over her head, smiling down at her.
“Now yer not allowed to unwrap my present for me,” she teased, kissing Tamsin again. “And such a pretty one it is.”
She released Tamsin’s hands. “Keep ’em right there,” Aisling told her.
Then she trailed her fingers down Tamsin’s arms, to her breasts, cupping them through her bra and leaning in to kiss a sweet trail down the valley between them.
Then she grazed her teeth over her nipples through the fabric, and Tamsin thought she might explode from the pressure building inside her.
“Please!” she gasped.
Aisling wore a wicked smile as she worked her way lower, kissing sweet patterns across the flesh of her tummy, down to the waistband of her jeans, where she finally unfastened them and slid them just a little down her hips.
“Hold on,” Aisling said, sitting up again.
“Arrgh! Now what!”
“Shoes.”
“What? Oh.” Tamsin quickly toed off her sneakers while Aisling had to sit on the edge of the bed and unlace her tac boots to pull them off. While she did that, Tamsin worked her jeans and panties down her hips, but then Aisling looked over her shoulder.
“Did I tell ye to do that, love?”
Tamsin grinned. “You didn’t tell me not to. You told me not to take off my bra.”
Aisling laughed, standing so she could peel off the rest of her clothes. “Well, yer halfway there. Might as well get it out of the way.”
Tamsin grinned and, seconds later, was completely naked. Aisling straddled her on the bed again, braced on her arms and lacing her fingers through Tamsin’s.
“That’s better, innit?” Aisling whispered, flicking the tip of her tongue over Tamsin’s lips.
It was indescribable, feeling the warm press of Aisling’s flesh along the length of her body. Staring up into her green eyes, her heart fluttered in that amazing way she’d missed for what felt like a painful eternity.
This time when Aisling headed south, she didn’t stop, much to Tamsin’s delight. She easily shouldered Tamsin’s thighs apart, settled between them, and her happy growl as her mouth closed over Tamsin’s mound nearly sent the corgi over the edge again.
In fact, the first swipe of her tongue over her clit did that. Tamsin fisted the sheets, clamping her mouth shut so as not to scream with pleasure and joy.
“Hmm, yer a moaner,” Aisling teased. “I know how to take care of that.” She sat up and turned, and Tamsin needed no urging to scoot down the bed a little.
And when Aisling straddled her head, Tamsin reached up, dug her fingers into Aisling’s ass, and pulled her down onto her mouth so she could have fun, too.
Aisling
Aisling nearly fell over from the mind-blowing sensation of Tamsin’s perfect mouth closing around her flesh. And it was her pressing her face against Tamsin’s thigh to muffle her own cries of pleasure when the first climax slammed into her.
Holy shite!
Gasping for breath, she finally got enough of her wits about her to remember what she’d been in the process of doing, and that was burying her face between her mate’s pretty little thighs.
Aisling lost track of time—and count of orgasms—and when she finally turned around again and collapsed next to Tamin, pulling her into her arms, she knew she was lost to this sweet woman.
“I love ye, beauty,” Aisling whispered, wanting to freeze this perfect moment.
Tamsin smiled, and it was radiant, brilliant, her own sweet little pocket goddess. “I love you, too.” Tamsin kissed her, and tasting their mixed juices as they did made Aisling’s heart sing.
Aisling palmed her cheek. “Hold up. Something I need to do.”
Tamsin scowled. “What?”
“Just a tick.” Aisling leaned over the edge of the bed, found her jeans where they’d landed on the floor and fished her cell phone out of the back pocket.
Tamsin was practically glued to her side, and Aisling damned sure wasn’t complaining about that.
“Who are you calling?” she asked, sounding sated and sleepy.
“Dewi.” Aisling repositioned herself with Tamsin tucked in the crook of her arm. With her free hand, she thumbed into her contacts and dialed Dewi.
Dewi answered on the first ring. “Yeah?”
“Ye know the personal issue I was grapplin’ with?”
Dewi hesitated. “Yeeeah? I think so, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying. Whhyyy?”
Aisling nuzzled the top of Tamsin’s head. “It’s resolved itself to everyone’s mutual satisfaction. How soon do ye want us over there for me to formally present my mate to ye?”